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Story
January 28, 1925
The Pageland Journal
Pageland, Chesterfield County, South Carolina
What is this article about?
In 1923, Chicago's Furniture Mart became the world's largest building, surpassing Detroit's General Motors building. The 16-story structure covers a full block on Lake Michigan, with 1,250,000 sq ft of floor space, massive construction materials, Gothic exterior, a 750-seat restaurant, and cost $10M.
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Things Unusual
By T. T. MAXEY
(1924, Western Newspaper Union.)
The World's Largest Building
It sounds big and it is big. Chicago, today, grows and moves such rapid strides—progress being the order of the day—that the first of anything of its particular does not so remain very long.
In 1922, the General Motors building Detroit was the largest building in the world. In 1923 the honor was conferred to Chicago, the so-called Furniture Mart, that substantial-looking structure which stands on the shore of Lake Michigan just south of the mouth of the Chicago river, has the distinction of being the largest building in the world.
This building is sixteen stories tall, covers an entire block of ground, 625 feet one way and 467 feet the other way. The combined area of its floors makes the astounding total of 1,250,000 square feet, or upward of 28 acres while the cubical capacity of this monstrous project mounts to the unbelievable total of 20,000,000 cubic feet. Think of it!
Then get this! Three trainloads of piling were used for foundation purposes. Three million feet of lumber were used in connection with the concrete work. Other materials of construction included such items as 80,000 barrels of cement; 40,000 cubic yards or wagonloads of gravel; 4,500,000 common brick and 700,000 face brick; 5,500 tons of reinforced steel; miles and miles of piping for watering and heating purposes and miles and miles of wiring for electric lighting and other purposes, and 400,000 square yards of plastering.
The exterior finish of this colossal building is of the so-called Gothic treatment, the material being dark-gray brick with terra cotta trimmings.
The top story contains a restaurant which seats 750 diners at one time.
The bulk weight of the building is estimated to be 325,000,000 pounds.
The estimated cost of the ground and building was placed at $10,000,000.
The Furniture Mart is an addition extraordinary to Chicago's many remarkable buildings and its wonderful business enterprise.
Boost your town.
By T. T. MAXEY
(1924, Western Newspaper Union.)
The World's Largest Building
It sounds big and it is big. Chicago, today, grows and moves such rapid strides—progress being the order of the day—that the first of anything of its particular does not so remain very long.
In 1922, the General Motors building Detroit was the largest building in the world. In 1923 the honor was conferred to Chicago, the so-called Furniture Mart, that substantial-looking structure which stands on the shore of Lake Michigan just south of the mouth of the Chicago river, has the distinction of being the largest building in the world.
This building is sixteen stories tall, covers an entire block of ground, 625 feet one way and 467 feet the other way. The combined area of its floors makes the astounding total of 1,250,000 square feet, or upward of 28 acres while the cubical capacity of this monstrous project mounts to the unbelievable total of 20,000,000 cubic feet. Think of it!
Then get this! Three trainloads of piling were used for foundation purposes. Three million feet of lumber were used in connection with the concrete work. Other materials of construction included such items as 80,000 barrels of cement; 40,000 cubic yards or wagonloads of gravel; 4,500,000 common brick and 700,000 face brick; 5,500 tons of reinforced steel; miles and miles of piping for watering and heating purposes and miles and miles of wiring for electric lighting and other purposes, and 400,000 square yards of plastering.
The exterior finish of this colossal building is of the so-called Gothic treatment, the material being dark-gray brick with terra cotta trimmings.
The top story contains a restaurant which seats 750 diners at one time.
The bulk weight of the building is estimated to be 325,000,000 pounds.
The estimated cost of the ground and building was placed at $10,000,000.
The Furniture Mart is an addition extraordinary to Chicago's many remarkable buildings and its wonderful business enterprise.
Boost your town.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
Worlds Largest Building
Furniture Mart
Chicago Architecture
Construction Materials
Gothic Design
Where did it happen?
Chicago, Shore Of Lake Michigan Just South Of The Mouth Of The Chicago River
Story Details
Location
Chicago, Shore Of Lake Michigan Just South Of The Mouth Of The Chicago River
Event Date
1923
Story Details
The Furniture Mart in Chicago becomes the world's largest building in 1923, detailed with its dimensions, construction materials, Gothic exterior, restaurant, weight, and $10M cost, highlighting Chicago's rapid progress.